New Delhi, May 10: India and Kazakhstan are expected
to sign by next month a broad-based civil nuclear agreement
under which the uranium-rich central Asian country will supply
fuel and technology to New Delhi.
India has sent a draft of the Inter Governmental
Agreement for Cooperation in Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy
to Kazakhstan for its perusal before the two sides ink the
pact.
Kazakhstan will be the fourth country after the US,
Russia and France with whom India will have such a broad-based
civil nuclear agreement.
"There is progress in preparation of the agreement on
nuclear cooperation in peaceful uses. We are finishing up the
agreement and will be sending it to Indian side," Kazakhstan`s
Ambassador Kairat Umarov said here.
"Final touches are being given (to the text of the
agreement) on our side. Soon we will pass it on to the Indian
side for consideration," he said.
Asked by when the pact is expected to be signed, Umarov
said if all goes well, "probably by the end of first half of
this year, surely."
The framework agreement will encompass all aspects
related to nuclear power. "It will involve not only fuel
supplies but also technology transfer, construction of small
and medium power stations, R&D facilities," the Kazakh
envoy said.
India and Kazakhstan had initiated talks on the agreement
following the visit of President Nursultan Nazarbayev here in
January.
Kazakhstan, tipped to become the world`s largest uranium
producer, is keen to have civil nuclear cooperation with India
whose industry is set to expand after the end to its 34-year
isolation in the field.
India and Kazakhstan are also working on forging
cooperation in thermal power sector.
"National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) is one of the
companies from Indian side which are talking to," the Kazakh
Ambassador said.
"We proposed (Indian companies) to come and explore,
either greenfield projects in our northern region or renovating
existing ones, which include huge ones of the capacity of 4000
MW. We will continue discussions on that," Umarov said.
Bureau Report
